Improvement in devices for discharging bilge-water



J. A. MILLER.

Devices for Discharging Bilge Water.

Patented Feb. 1i, 1873.

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UNITED STATES FFICE.

PATENT JOHN A. MILLER, OF IADUCAH, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO HEZEKIAH P. MILLER, OF SAME PLACE.

` vIMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR DISCHARGING BILGE-WATER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,656, dated February l1, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. MILLER, of Paducah, in the county McCracken, in the State of Kentucky, have invented certain Improvements in Bilge Pumps, or means for draining oft' the water in thehold of a vessel, of which the following is a specication This invention consists in the construction ot' the pump or drain, when inserted in the bottom of a vessel, as will more fully hereinafter be described.

In the drawing, Figure lrepresents a longitudinal section of a vessel, and the improvement inserted through the bottom. Fig. 2 represents the pump in position for draining off the water in the vessel. Fig. 3 represents the pump when it is closed, or the water prevented from draining off and Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the pump on line :c a: of Fig. 3.

A represents the sides, and A the bottom, ot' a vessel. B represents a triangular cylinder, open at its lower end, with a head in the upper end and a projecting flange, b, around it at the proper point to secure the pump to the bottom of the vessel, and have the lower end even, or about even, with the bottom of the sheathing. b is a hole through cylinder B on its stern side and just above the ange b. C is an inside cylinder, titting snugly into the inner diameter' of cylinder B, and so as to freelyT slide therein, has a heavy head at its top end and packing at the lower end between the bottom, and a plate to secure the packing in place. This inner sliding cylinder has two holes, c and c,in its stern side. e is the packing, and of is the bottom plate attached to the bottom of the inner sliding cylinder C by a screw or any other secure means. This packing, so attached to the sliding cylinder O, will, when said cylinder is drawn up in the position seen in Fig. 3, eectnally close the outer cylinder, and neither water or sand can be admitted into either cylinder or the hold of the vessel through the cylinders, thus keeping them free from back-water or sand when the vessel is not in motion, as would be the case if no packing were used. D is a screw-rod sliding through the head on the outer cylinder B, and screw-tapped into the head ot' the inner cylinder C, and so that by turning screwnut d in one direction it will raise the inner cylinder, and by reversing the direction it will force the inner cylinder down.

Fig. 4 shows the form of the cylinders in cross-section, with the broad and curved side toward the stern and the sharp point toward the bow of the vessel, the pump being thus constructed and firmly secured to the bottom of the vessel and passing through it.

The pump to drain oi the water is then put in position seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and so as to bring hole c in cylinder C coincident with hole b in cylinder B, and hole c below cylinder B and the bottom of the vessel, and the vessel, being in motion, with the inner cylinder O forced below the bottom, causes a vacuum to be formed in the water at the stern side ot' it, when the water will freely pass outof the vessel, as is indicated by the arrows in Fig. l; and when the vessel is about to cease moving forward, or comes into shallow water, the pump is put in the position seen in Fig. 3, when no water can pass through it in either direction.

I ann aware that a projecting shield or pin, with a valve in a hole through the bottom of the vessel at the stern side ot' said projecting shield,has been used, but such shield was liable to be broken oft' it' the vessel was run into shallow water, so that the bottom would strike the ground. Suchconstruction Ido not claim; but

.Vhat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is ,f

The drain-oft' pump, composed ot' the fixed cylinder B having inlet-hole b', inner sliding cylinder C with inlet-hole c, discharge-hole cf, and packing e, when constructed to operate in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

JNO. A. MILLER.

Witnesses H. P. MILLER, Roer. NoLEN. 

